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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Amex Business Gold vs. Ink Business Preferred: Which business card is best?
Credit card writer Danyal Ahmed is an avid traveler, averaging about 100,000 aeronautical miles per year. He regularly applies that knowledge and his expertise in credit cards to his role as a credit card writer at TPG.
Madison Blancaflor is the managing editor for TPG's content operations team. She focuses on helping TPG's broader editorial team bring news, features and advice to readers. She has nearly six years of experience covering the credit cards and travel industries.
also contributed to this story
October 10, 2025 • 13 min read
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Quick summary
The article compares two leading business cards, focusing on earning structures, benefits and redemption options.
One card offers flexible bonus categories and monthly statement credits, while the other features a lower annual fee and strong travel redemption value.
Both cards provide robust travel and purchase protections, as well as the ability to transfer points to multiple airline and hotel partners.
The choice between these cards depends on your business's spending patterns, need for flexibility and eligibility based on application restrictions.
What to consider
Eligibility rules differ: one card enforces a strict five-card limit within 24 months, while the other restricts welcome bonuses to once per lifetime.
Statement credits and bonus categories may require enrollment and have monthly or annual caps.
Point values for travel redemptions vary, with some programs offering higher value when points are used through specific travel portals or transferred to partners (per TPG's October 2025 valuations).
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side comparison of benefits, earning rates and redemption strategies to help you select the best business card for your needs.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
So, let’s compare the two across several criteria to see which card best suits your business needs.
Amex Business Gold vs. Ink Business Preferred comparison
Amex Business Gold
Ink Business Preferred
Welcome bonus
Find out your offer and see if you're eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee
$375 (see )
$95
Earning rates
4 points per dollar spent in two eligible categories (advertising in select U.S. media, transit, monthly U.S. wireless plans, U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers) with the most spending each billing cycle (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent)
3 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotel bookings made through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™
1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
3 points per dollar spent on advertising purchases (made with social media sites and search engines), cable, internet and phone services, shipping purchases and travel (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year, then 1 point per dollar)
1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Benefits
Cellphone protection*
No foreign transaction fees (see )
Shopping and travel protections
(Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.)
Cellphone protection ($1,000 cap per claim; $100 deductible)
No foreign transaction fees
Shopping and travel protections
Statement credits
Up to $240 in statement credits each calendar year (up to $20 a month) for eligible U.S. purchases at Grubhub, office supply stores and shipments at UPS.com
Up to $155 in statement credits each calendar year (up to $12.95 a month) for a Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal, excluding Plus Ups)
None
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Amex Business Gold vs. Ink Business Preferred welcome offer
New Amex Business Gold Card cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Based on TPG's October 2025 valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, making this welcome offer worth up to $4,000.
Meanwhile, new Ink Business Preferred cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Based on TPG's October 2025 valuations, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each, making the welcome offer worth $2,050.
THE POINTS GUY
Before jumping the gun and going for the Amex Business Gold, remember that the spending requirement is substantially higher compared to the Ink Business Preferred.
Another important thing to note is each issuer’s application restrictions. With the Chase card, you'll be on the hook for their infamous 5/24 rule; therefore, you’ll need to have applied for fewer than five credit cards in the last 24 months in order to be eligible.
You'll be held to the “one bonus per card per lifetime” rule for American Express. So, if you've owned this card in the past, you will not be eligible for the welcome offer, nor will you be eligible for a better offer in the future if you apply now.
Winner: Amex Business Gold.
Amex Business Gold vs. Ink Business Preferred benefits
Both cards offer extensive travel and purchase protections, with the Amex Business Gold offering the following:
Cellphone protection**: Reimbursement for the repair or replacement cost for damage or theft with a maximum limit of $800 per claim, with a $50 deductible, on up to two claims in a 12-month period. Eligibility includes paying the wireless bill for the cellphone line.
Extended warranty***: Cardmembers can receive up to one additional year of warranty on purchased items that have warranties of five years or less. The covered amount includes the amount charged to your card up to $10,000 per item, not to exceed $50,000 per cardmember account per calendar year.
Travel protections: Included protections are baggage insurance plan**, car rental loss and damage insurance^ and trip delay insurance***. Cardmembers receive up to $500 of coverage for damaged, lost or stolen checked bags ($1,250 for carry-ons).
UNIVERSAL IMAGES GROUP/GETTY IMAGES
The Ink Business Preferred also offers a mix of travel and purchase protections, which include:
Cellphone protection: To be eligible, you must pay your bill with the card, and you are covered if your cellphone is stolen or damaged. You can receive up to $1,000 per claim, with a $100 deductible, with up to three claims per 12-month period.
Extended warranty protection: Purchases with a U.S. manufacturer's warranty of three years or less receive an extra year of protection and cover up to $10,000 per item, with a $50,000 per calendar year limit.
Primary car rental coverage: Covered for damage and theft in the U.S. and most countries worldwide when rentals are for commercial or business purposes. It does not offer any liability coverage but covers up to $60,000 for most rental vehicles.
Purchase protection: Covers damaged or stolen items within the first 120 days from purchase (90 days for New York residents), up to $10,000 per claim ($50,000 per account).
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: For trips canceled or shortened due to covered issues (such as illness or severe weather), you're eligible for up to $5,000 of coverage per person for prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses. This coverage is limited to $10,000 per trip and $20,000 per 12-month period per account.
What sets the Amex Business Gold apart is the statement credits that help offset the annual fee. Cardmembers receive up to $240 each calendar year in statement credits (up to $20 a month) for eligible U.S. purchases at Grubhub, office supply stores and shipments at UPS.com. Enrollment required.
Furthermore, cardmembers also receive up to $155 in statement credits each calendar year for one monthly Walmart+ membership (up to $12.95 per month plus applicable taxes, subject to auto-renewal, excluding Plus Ups; enrollment required).
JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES
**Eligibility and benefit level vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
***Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
^Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Winner: Amex Business Gold. While both cards have excellent protections, the Amex Business Gold's statement credits give it the edge.
Earning points with the Amex Business Gold vs. Ink Business Preferred
The Amex Business Gold has a flexible and business-friendly approach to bonus category earning. The card is unique because it earns 4 points per dollar spent in your top two eligible spending categories each billing cycle:
Monthly wireless telephone charges made directly with U.S. service providers
Transit, including buses, ferries, parking, ride-hailing, subways, taxi cabs, tolls and trains
U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
This is ideal for businesses whose monthly expenses fluctuate, giving them more opportunities to rack up rewards.
Additionally, Amex Business Gold cardmembers earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotels booked directly through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
MASKOT/GETTY IMAGES
On the other hand, the Ink Business Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each year) on:
Advertising purchases made with search engines and social media sites
Cable, internet and phone services
Shipping purchases
Travel
All other purchases and any purchases over the $150,000 limit will earn 1 point per dollar spent. Cardholders can also earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027).
Although it may not seem as lucrative as the Amex Business Gold's bonus earning categories, Chase's travel category is broadly defined, so travel purchases such as parking meters, tolls, and other transit purchases can also earn 3 points per dollar spent.
Winner: Amex Business Gold. Higher earning rates and flexible categories allow businesses to earn across many categories.
Redeeming points with Amex Business Gold vs. Ink Business Preferred
When it comes to redemption value, the Ink Business Preferred has the edge. Points redeemed through Chase Travel℠ are worth up to 1.75 cents each on select premium cabin flights and 1.5 cents each on select hotel bookings with Chase Points Boost (values vary by redemption; see your rewards program agreement for full details).
If you hold another Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see ), you can combine your points and redeem through that account for up to 2 cents per point on eligible Chase Travel bookings (depending on the specific redemption; see your rewards program agreement for full details).
WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
By comparison, Membership Rewards points from the Amex Business Gold are typically worth just 1 cent each toward statement credits or gift cards. You’ll get far better value transferring them to travel partners instead.
Winner: Ink Business Preferred. Chase’s elevated travel portal redemptions make it easier to unlock strong value without transferring points.
Transferring points with the Amex Business Gold vs. Ink Business Preferred
As both a Chase cardholder and an Amex cardmember, TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed often takes advantage of transfer bonuses. He used a 30% transfer bonus from Amex to British Airways to book Qatar Airways' Qsuite between Los Angeles and Doha for just 54,000 Avios one-way.
Winner: Tie. Both cards share many transfer partners; your winner depends on who you fly with most often.
Should I get the Amex Business Gold or Ink Business Preferred?
The Amex Business Gold is ideal for businesses with changing expenses that can maximize its flexible bonus categories and monthly statement credits. Its $375 annual fee can pay off if you regularly use those perks. The Ink Business Preferred offers simpler rewards, a low $95 annual fee and strong value when combined with other Chase cards.
Bottom line
Both cards are highly competitive. In exchange for a higher annual fee of $375, the Amex Business Gold offers higher earning rates across categories that can change monthly based on your spending, in addition to statement credits and travel protections.
While the Ink Business Preferred offers a substantially lower annual fee of $95, cardholders are subject to Chase's strict 5/24 rule. If you're at 5/24, the Amex Business Gold is worth your top consideration; otherwise, choose the card that makes the most sense for your business's spending habits and financial goals.
